Precious minerals make the modern world work, and they are used for everything from circuit boards to tableware. But they are also one of the most toxic substances known to the scientific community, and although they are beautiful in appearance, they are fatal and dangerous.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Chalcanthite - CuSO4·5H2O</h1>
Thiogluite is a hydrated water-soluble copper sulfate. The mineral is used in copper ore, but must be kept dry in the environment as the mineral dissolves and recrystallizes easily in wet environments. It is water-soluble and will crystallize again from the solution. The copper in this mineral is highly bioavailable, toxic to plants, and large quantities to humans.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Stibnite -Sb2S3</h1>
Lute antimonite is a toxic antimony sulfide mineral with an orthogonal lattice and is a non-metallic source of antimony. Antimony cream has been used in cosmetics to deepen eyebrows and eyelashes for thousands of years. This mineral is also used to make tableware, leading to ingestion of antimony poisoning.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Asbestos -Mg3Si2O5(OH)4</h1>
Everyone should have heard of asbestos and associated it with lung cancer. Asbestos is not one mineral, but six different minerals. This silicate mineral grows thin fiber crystals that fall off easily and form dust particles. Due to its robust, fire-resistant and flexible nature, it has been widely used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications, from ceiling tiles and roofing materials to flooring and insulation. These fibers can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestos lungs.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Torbernite - Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8 - 12 H2O</h1>
Toberniite is a dangerous mineral composed of hydrated copper, phosphate and uranyl. This mineral is usually found in granite containing uranium and is dangerous due to its radioactive properties. This mineral naturally releases radon, which, if exposed long enough, can lead to lung cancer. It's a mineral you don't want to put on a display cabinet shelf.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Cinnabar -HgS</h1>
Cinnabar is a crimson mercury sulfide mineral that provides most of the world's elemental mercury. When oxidized, this element produces methylmercury and dimethylmercury, two toxic compounds that cause irreparable damage to a child's nervous system. It is fatal in small concentrations and can be absorbed through the respiratory tract, intestines or skin.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Galena -PbS</h1>
Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulphide minerals. Galena is the main ore of lead, and it forms a sparkling silver cube with an almost unnatural shape. Although lead is generally extremely easy to bend, the sulfur content in galena makes it extremely brittle and sensitive to chemical treatment. It's not as bad as mercury, which kills you instantly, but lead doesn't rush out of your body. It accumulated over the years and eventually reached toxic levels. Once this happens, both you and your child will pay a price because lead poisoning is carcinogenic to you and teratogenic to your offspring (leading to serious birth defects).
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Hutchinsonite -(Tl,Pb)2As5S9</h1>
Pyrite is a form of arsenic sulfide containing thallium and lead that can be found in hydrothermal vents. Thallium salt is almost odorless and highly toxic, and has been used in rat poisons and insecticides. The thallium inclusions in arsenic sulfide combine two extremely dangerous and deadly minerals. Exposure to this mineral may result in death.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Orpiment -As2S3</h1>
Female yellow is another arsenic sulfide mineral with a surprising orange-yellow color. This mineral occurs naturally in hydrothermal vents, hot springs and vents. Curiously, despite its toxicity, the mineral was once used in Medicine and Alchemy in China to find a way to create gold. Arsenic, especially if allowed to oxidize, if not handled properly will lead to arsenic poisoning.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Riebeckite- Na2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)Si8O22(OH)2</h1>
Fine fibrous blue asbestos is usually derived from altered metamorphic rocks. It has been widely used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications thanks to its robust, fire-resistant and flexible properties, from ceiling tiles and roofing materials to flooring and insulation. These fibers can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestos lungs.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right">Arsenopyrite -FeAsS</h1>
Poisonous sand is an arsenic sulfide with a bright steel metallic color and is commonly found in hydrothermal vents and pegmatites. Arsenic can cause a lot of damage to the environment and humans, and can sometimes be associated with gold mines. Oxidation of arsenic pyrite results in soluble arsenic in the water, which subsequently produces acidic mine drainage.